Primal Play
Primal play is a form of BDSM that emphasizes acting on base, instinctual feelings and urges without formally defined protocols or rules.
Whilst ethical kinksters negotiate prior to play, this activity can be considered a form of edge play. Fighting, grappling, wrestling, and “hunting” scenes can have deeply emotional and aggressive components.
BDSM Roles in Primal Play
Much like other kinks, the deeper down the rabbit hole you go, the more likely you are to uncover additional complexities and nuances to primal play. Kinksters who engage in primal play may take on any number of labels.
Groups of primal kinksters often refer to themselves as a pack. Within a specific pack, you’ll find Alphas (primals who identify as Doms within a given pack), and mates (primals who have formed a deep bond through their play). Additional roles include:
Predators and Hunters
For some D-types, the terms Predator and Hunter become a means of expressing their dominance in primal play without rules and protocols being observed.
In these roles, primals can explore aspects of their kinkiness that they may feel they can’t express in the structure of D/s. Predators and Hunters can also exist outside of the slash, with their biggest kink being the thrill of hunt, pursuit, and ultimate capture of their prey.
Prey
Likewise, s-types may take on the label of prey, which gives them freedom to explore what it feels like to fight back or resist the advances of the dominant partner.
Sometimes prey will engage in primal scenes with intentions of fighting but ultimately relenting to their dominant counterpart. In others, the fight can be genuine. (After all, a predator or a hunter doesn’t always capture their prey.) As with Predators and Hunters, kinksters who use this label don’t have to be s-types; they may simply have a kink for being hunted, tracked, or ultimately captured.
Primal roles don’t only apply to members of a pack, and aren’t only applicable to someone who is into BDSM. Primals can also engage in play with partners who are on the same side of the slash (such as two alphas or two prey).
In these ways, primal play is attractive to some kinksters because it affords them freedom from what they see as restrictions imposed by more traditional forms of BDSM.
Is primal play always animalistic?
A common misunderstanding of primal play is the assumption that it always involves growling or is the same as animal role play.
Some kinksters who engage in primal play (aka “primals”) will growl or take on more animalistic characteristics, but it’s not a requirement or defining aspect of all primal play.
Such aspects of this kink are viewed as organic, naturally arising demonstrations of raw emotion and involvement in the scene.
Safety Considerations for Primal Play
As a form of edge play, primal activities should be approached with ample recognition of safety considerations and risks.
Negotiations and safewords are strongly recommended. Many primal scenes will involve kicking, punching, choking, and components of emotional S&M.
Our risk mitigation guides on emotional S&M and rough body play - two of the more common activities within primal play - can provide you with a rundown of risks, requirements, and safety considerations for engaging in this type of play.
Want to learn more? Check out these related topics:
